…continuing on from a previous post…
Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arXiv:2507.05318v1
[Submitted on 7 Jul 2025]
Hopkins, M. J. Dorsey, R. C. Forbes, J. C. et al. From a Different Star: 3I/ATLAS in the context of the Ōtautahi-Oxford interstellar object population model
As before, please have some perspective on arXiv.org, and papers from it. At best, papers are preprints- early-release versions of works, slated for actual publication in an actual, peer-reviewed journal. As such, arXiv papers have not gone through full and thorough review and revision, only a much lighter, faster read-through.
At worst, papers from arXiv may turn out to be unpublishable- rush jobs or substandard output, placed on arXiv as a way to dodge accountability and fact-checking. Fortunately, I think that’s the exception rather than the rule. The subject matter of, and treatments by, these four ATLAS papers do not seem sensational or overhyped. The authors include serious names, with serious reputations, within the field of small-body astronomy and Solar System studies. There would be consequences to these scientists putting out junk papers with their names on it.
As with many things in the natural world, the reality is likely in between the two extremes. I think a healthy attitude is that these papers are fair enough, but possibly with an oversight or omission somewhere. 3I/ATLAS will disappear into the Sun in a few short months, and everyone’s rushing to get time on sky on this fast-moving object. A little haste is understandable.